Flexible display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible display, a housing to store at least a portion of the flexible display, and a first guide in the housing to guide movement of the flexible display, and to sense a squeezing motion on the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0006145, filed on Jan. 13, 2015,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “FlexibleDisplay Apparatus,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure herein relates to a flexible display apparatus inwhich a flexible display is installed.

2. Description of the Related Art

When users use electronic devices, mobility is an important issue. Inparticular, various, e.g., mobile, electronic apparatuses, in additionto mobile phones, having performance equivalent to desktop computershave recently been sold. As such electronic apparatuses becomesmall-sized and lightweight, various electronic information is nowavailable to users even while on the move.

In particular, as flexible display panels have been widely usedrecently, displays of such electronic apparatuses may be expanded. Thus,structures and control methods for flexible display apparatusesaccording to the expansion of the displays are in demand to provideconvenience to users.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a flexible display apparatus including aguide unit for guiding movement of a flexible display and simultaneouslysensing pressure against a housing unit.

Embodiments provide a flexible display apparatus, including a flexibledisplay, a housing unit to store at least a portion of the flexibledisplay, and a first guide unit in the housing unit to guide movement ofthe flexible display, the first guide unit sensing a squeezing motion onthe housing unit.

The first guide may include a rotating unit to rotate according to themovement of the flexible display, and a fixed unit defining a rotationaxis of the rotating unit.

The rotating unit may sense the movement of the flexible display, andthe fixed unit may sense the squeeze motion on the housing.

The fixed unit may be an electrostatic capacitive sensor or apiezoelectric sensor.

The fixed unit may be the electrostatic capacitive sensor and mayinclude a first electrode and a second electrode facing the firstelectrode, the fixed unit senses the squeezing motion by using a changein electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and secondelectrode according to an external force on the housing.

The fixed unit may be the piezoelectric sensor and may include a firstelectrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and apiezoelectric element between the first and second electrodes, the fixedunit senses the squeezing motion by using an electrical potentialdifference generated in the piezoelectric element according to anexternal force on the housing.

The rotating unit may be a torque sensor or a gyro sensor.

The rotating unit may include an elastic cover of an elastic material,and a rotation guide to guide the elastic cover to rotate based on thefixed unit serving as an axis of rotation.

The first guide may be at a first side of the housing and senses thesqueezing motion on the first side of the housing.

The flexible display apparatus may further include first and secondpanels in parallel to each other, the first guide being between thefirst and second panels, wherein one end of each of the first and secondpanels is adjacent to the first guide, and the first and second panelsextend from the first side of the housing to a second side opposite thefirst side.

The first and second sides of the housing, respectively, may correspondto uppermost and lowermost sides or to leftmost and rightmost sides ofthe housing.

When the first guide is pressed, a distance between the first and secondpanels may decrease by the squeezing motion on the housing, and thefirst guide may sense the squeezing motion by sensing the degree ofpressure.

The flexible display apparatus may further include a second guide at asecond side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing, thesecond guide sensing a squeezing motion on the second side.

The squeezing motion may be pressure that exceeds a predetermined forceapplied to the housing.

The flexible display may be slidable or rollable into or out of thehousing.

The first guide may guide the flexible display into or out of thehousing.

The first guide may guide the path along which the flexible display isrolled into or out of the housing.

The flexible display apparatus may further include a controller tocontrol the first guide and the flexible display.

The controller may detect at least one of the moving direction, movingspeed, and moving distance of the flexible display by using the rotatingunit of the first guide, and may detect a region of the flexible displayexposed to the outside based on the detected results.

The controller may detect the region exposed to the outside toselectively activate the region exposed to the outside.

The controller may detect the squeezing motion on the housing via thefixed unit of the first guide, and may control display of a regionexposed to the outside of the flexible display based on the detectedresults.

The controller may navigate menus provided by a menu interfacecorresponding to the movement of the flexible display when an imagebeing displayed is a menu interface, and may select or execute one menufrom the menus according to the navigated result when detecting thesqueezing motion.

The housing may further include a transparent cover of a transparentmaterial.

The housing may support a region of the flexible display exposed to anoutside.

A specific region of the housing corresponding to the first guide mayinclude an elastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art bydescribing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate front perspective views of a flexible displayapparatus according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views taken along line I-I′of the flexible display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a flexible displayapparatus including a plurality of panels.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of the flexible displayapparatus of FIGS. 1A to 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an embodiment of a flexible displayapparatus performing a selection or execution operation corresponding toa squeeze motion.

FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate views of an embodiment of a flexible displayapparatus performing various operations corresponding to inward oroutward movement of the flexible display apparatus and a squeeze motion.

FIG. 7A illustrates a front perspective view of a flexible displayapparatus including a plurality of guide units.

FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view line J-J′ of the flexibledisplay apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied indifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may beexaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood thatwhen a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer orsubstrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, orintervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also beunderstood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” twolayers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or moreintervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

The terms used herein are selected from general terms widely used ifpossible in consideration of the functions herein. However, these may bechanged according to the intent of a person of ordinary skill in theart, practice or the advent of new technologies. Also, in specificcases, there may be terms selected by the applicants, in which case, themeaning will be described in the detailed description of thecorresponding embodiment. Thus, the terms used in the specificationshould not be understood simply as the names thereof but should beunderstood based on actual meanings that are not the terms, and theentire contents of the specification.

According to the development of display device technology installed inelectronic apparatuses, flexible displays are being commercialized. Inthe specification, an electronic apparatus installed with a flexibledisplay is referred to as a flexible display apparatus. The flexibledisplay apparatus has a meaning including various electronic apparatuseswith portability, e.g., electronic apparatuses such as mobile phones,personal digital assistants (PDA), notebook computers, tablet PCs, MP3players, CD players, DVD players, wearable devices, head mount displays(HMDs), and smart watches.

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate front perspective views of a flexible displayapparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, a flexible display apparatus 1 maygenerally include a flexible display 10, and a housing unit 20 storingthe flexible display 10. The flexible display 10 designates a flexibledisplay which may be bent, folded, rolled, etc. without a loss indisplay characteristics, e.g., unlike traditional hard display panels.The flexible display 10 is characterized in that it is lighter inweight, thinner, has higher impact resistance, and may be freely bentwhen compared to traditional hard displays. The flexible display 10 mayinclude at least one of, e.g., liquid crystal displays, thin filmtransistor-liquid crystal displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED)displays, 3D displays, and transparent OLED (TOLED) displays.

A substrate of the flexible display 10 may be formed of, e.g., a metalfoil, very thin glass, or a plastic substrate. In particular, in thecase of the plastic substrate, a PC substrate, a PET substrate, a PESsubstrate, a PI substrate, a PEN substrate, and/or an AryLite substratemay be used.

Furthermore, in the specification, the flexible display 10 may designatea plurality of separated displays. Accordingly, a plurality of harddisplays may be designated as the flexible display 10.

The housing unit 20 may store at least a portion of the flexible display10. Here, the housing unit 20 may store the flexible display 10 byvarious methods. For example, the housing unit 20 may store the flexibledisplay 10 through a method such as roll-in, slide-in, bent-in, andfold-in. In particular, in the specification, the housing unit 20 maystore the flexible display 10 through the roll-in or slide-in methods,and a detailed description thereof will be given below with reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B.

Users may use the flexible display 10 by moving it out from the housingunit 20 or moving it into the housing unit 20, when necessary. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, when wanting to use a small screen,users may move the flexible display 10 into the housing unit 20.Otherwise, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, when wanting to use a largescreen, users may move the flexible display 10 out from the housing unit20.

That is, users may adjust the available displaying area by moving theflexible display 10 into or out from the housing unit 20 according tothe objects of use. The housing unit 20 may further include a guide unitfor guiding the flexible display 10 to move into or move out from thehousing unit 20, and a detailed description thereof will be given belowwith reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The housing unit 20 may function to support a display region of theflexible display 10 exposed to the outside. In view of thecharacteristics of the flexible display 10, when there is no supportmember, a user may have inconvenience in using the flexible display 10.For example, since the flexible display 10 has a high degree of freedomin terms of shape, users may experience difficulty in stably touchingthe flexible display 10 or securing a view of the bent region of theflexible display 10.

Accordingly, the housing unit 20 supports the display region exposed tothe outside, so that the flexible display 10 may be stably used by auser. Furthermore, the housing unit 20 prevents damage to the displaydue to excessive shape deformation thereof by supporting the flexibledisplay 10.

However, the apparatus is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment,and the flexible display apparatus 1 may separately include a supportunit (not shown) for supporting the flexible display 10. Here, thesupport unit may function to stably support the exposed region of theflexible display 10 while moving together with the flexible display 10.The support unit may be configured in a frame-shape or a panel shapesupporting the flexible display 10.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the housing unit 20 mayinclude various units for driving the flexible display apparatus 1. Forexample, the housing unit 20 may include a power supply unit forsupplying power to the flexible display apparatus 1, an audioinput/output unit for inputting/outputting audio, and a control unit forcontrolling the component units of the flexible display apparatus 1. Inparticular, the control unit performs functions to detect an input tothe flexible display apparatus 1, and controls the flexible display 10based on the detected results, and a detailed description thereof willbe given below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views taken along line I-I′of the flexible display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the housing unit 20 may store at least aportion of the flexible display 10, and may include a first guide unit30 for guiding the movement of the stored flexible display 10. Aspecific region of the housing unit 20 corresponding to the position ofthe first guide unit 30 may be formed of an elastic material. This isfor the purpose of allowing an external pressure on the housing unit 20to be transferred to the first guide unit 30. The housing unit 20 mayselectively include a transparent cover unit 60-1 of a transparentmaterial for protecting the flexible display region exposed to theoutside. The first guide unit 30 guides the flexible display 10 movinginto or out from the housing, so that users may be assisted in stablymoving the flexible display 10. For this purpose, the first guide unit30 may include a rotating unit 50 and a fixed unit 40.

The rotating unit 50 may guide the movement of the flexible display 10.The rotating unit 50 may contact at least a portion of the flexibledisplay 10 and rotate according to the movement of the flexible display10 through friction force. Thus, the rotating unit 50 switches themoving direction of the flexible display 10, and at the same time,allows the flexible display 10 to smoothly move.

Also, the rotating unit 50 may sense the movement of the flexibledisplay 10 through sensing the rotation thereof. More specifically, therotating unit 50 may sense the moving direction, the moving distance,the moving speed, etc. of the flexible display 10 by using the number ofrevolutions, the rotation angle, the rotation speed, etc. thereof. Here,the rotating unit 50 may be a torque sensor, or a gyro sensor. A torquesensor refers to various sensing methods and or devices for measuringthe torque of an object, and a gyro sensor refers to various sensingmethods or devices for measuring the amount of angle change of anobject. In addition, the rotating unit 50 may be any one of varioussensing methods and devices and is not limited to the above embodiments.

The rotating unit 50 may include an elastic cover unit 50-1 formed of anelastic material, and a rotation guide unit 50-2 guiding the elasticcover unit 50-1 to rotate about the fixed unit 40 serving as an axis.The rotation guide unit 50-2 is disposed between the elastic cover unit50-1 and the fixed unit 40, and guides the elastic cover unit 50-1 tosmoothly rotate about the fixed unit 40 serving as an axis. The rotationguide unit 50-2 may also be formed of an elastic material.

The fixed unit 40 represents a fixed part regardless of the movement ofthe flexible display 10. Also, the fixed unit 40 may perform thefunction of a rotation axis of the rotating unit 50. Accordingly, thefixed unit 40 may be located at the center of the rotating unit 50.

The fixed unit 40 may sense a squeezing motion pressing the housing unit20 by a force not less than a predetermined force (along arrows in FIGS.2A-2B). For example, the fixed unit 40 may sense a user's motion forgripping or grasping the housing unit 20 with a force not less than apredetermined force as the squeezing motion. As another example, thefixed unit 40 may sense a user's motion for touching or pressing thehousing unit 20 with a force more than a predetermined force as thesqueezing motion. That is, the fixed unit 40 of the specification maysense the user's various motions pressing the housing unit 20 by a forcemore than a predetermined force by using a part of his or her body (e.g.hands, fingers, etc.) or a tool (e.g. stylus pens, etc.), as thesqueezing motion, but is not limited the above-mentioned embodiments.

Since the housing 20 and the rotating unit 50 include elastic materials,the external pressure may be transferred to the fixed unit 40 throughthe housing unit 20 and the rotating unit 50. As such, the fixed unit 40senses the squeezing motion by sensing the transferred externalpressure.

For example, the fixed unit 40 may be an electrostatic capacitivesensor. In this case, the fixed unit 40 may include first and secondelectrodes 40-1 and 40-2 facing each other. Also, according toembodiments, the fixed unit 40 may further include an elastic coverwhich is formed of an elastic material, and which covers the first andsecond electrodes 40-1 and 40-2. When an external pressure is applied tothe housing unit 20 by the squeezing motion of a user, the housing unit20, the rotating unit 50, and fixed unit 40 may be elastically deformed.Through the elastic deformation of the fixed unit 40, the distancebetween the first and second electrodes 40-1 and 40-2 may be changedinside the fixed unit 40, resulting in a change in the electrostaticcapacity between the first and second electrodes 40-1 and 40-2. Thefixed unit 40 may sense a squeezing motion by sensing the change in theelectrostatic capacity.

In another example, the fixed unit 40 may be a piezoelectric sensor. Inthis case, the fixed unit 40 may include first and second electrodes40-1 and 40-2, and a piezoelectric element between the first and secondelectrodes 40-1 and 40-2. Here, the piezoelectric element may representan element generating an electrical potential difference by a physicalexternal pressure. Also, the fixed unit 40 may further include anelastic cover which is formed of an elastic material, and which coversthe first and second electrodes 40-1 and 40-2. When an external pressureis applied to the housing unit 20 by the squeezing motion of a user, thehousing unit 20, the rotating unit 50, and fixed unit 40 may beelastically deformed. Through the elastic deformation of the fixed unit40, pressure may be applied to the piezoelectric element, and as aresult, an electrical potential difference is generated in thepiezoelectric element. The fixed unit 40 may sense a squeezing motionthrough sensing the electrical potential difference generated inpiezoelectric element.

In addition, the rotating unit 40 may be implemented as various sensingmethod or devices, and is not limited to the above embodiments.

When considering the above, the flexible display apparatus 1 of thespecification utilizes the first guide unit 30 guiding the movement ofthe flexible display 10 as a rotation sensor or a squeeze sensor foreach region, so that there may be advantageous effects in terms ofminiaturization, manufacturing process, and costs of the flexibledisplay apparatus 1. Also, the flexible display apparatus 1 as describedherein controls the display according to a user's squeezing motion, sothat a more intuitive display control method may be provided.Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the rotating unit 50 andthe fixed unit 40 will be described while being identified with thefirst guide unit 30.

The flexible display 10 may be stored in the housing unit 20 by avarious methods. Examples will be described below with reference toFIGS. 2A-2B.

For example, referring to FIG. 2A, the flexible display 10 may be storedin the housing unit 20 by a slide-in method. The slide-in methodrepresents a method in which the flexible display 10 is stored in anunfolded state inside the housing unit 20. In detail, the first guideunit 30 may guide the slide-in or slide-out path, e.g., movement, of theflexible display 10. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, theflexible display 10 may extend along an external surface of the housingunit 20, and may continuously extend into the housing unit 20 along aninternal surface of the housing unit, so rotation of the first guideunit 30 moves an unfolded flexible display 10 along surfaces of thehousing unit 20. Users may adjust the exposed region of the flexibledisplay by sliding in or sliding out the flexible display 10.

In another example, referring to FIG. 2B, the flexible display 10 may bestored in the housing unit 20 by a roll-in method. The roll-in methodrepresents a method in which the flexible display 10 is stored in arolled state inside the housing unit 20. In this case, the flexibledisplay 10 may be rolled on, e.g., around, the guide unit 30 in aroll-shape. The first guide unit 30 may guide the path along which theflexible display 10 is to be rolled into or rolled out of. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the flexible display 10 may extend along anexternal surface of the housing unit 20, and may continuously extendinto the housing unit 20 to be rolled around the first guide unit 30, sorotation of the first guide unit 30 rolls or unrolls the flexibledisplay 10. Users may adjust the exposed region of the flexible displayby rolling in or rolling out the flexible display 10.

In addition, the flexible display 10 may be stored in the housing unit20 by various methods, e.g., a bend-in method, a fold-in method, etc.Hereinafter, for convenience, descriptions of the flexible displayapparatus 1 stored in the housing unit 20 will be given with respect tothe slide-in method. However, the following description can be appliednot only to the flexible display apparatus 1 of slide-in method, but maybe applied to all the flexible display apparatuses 1 including theflexible display 10 according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a flexible displayapparatus including a plurality of panels.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flexible display apparatus 1 may include firstand second panels 70-1 and 70-2 to sense the squeezing motion in variousregions of the housing unit 20. The first and second panels 70-1 and70-2 may be formed of rigid materials, e.g., metal, glass, and plastic.

The first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be disposed parallel toeach other with the first guide unit 30 disposed therebetween. Forexample, the first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be respectivelydisposed in upper and lower sides of the first guide unit 30. One end ofeach of the first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be disposedadjacent to the first guide unit 30. Accordingly, a vacant spacecorresponding to the width of the first guide unit 30 may exist betweenthe first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2.

When the first guide unit 30 is provided at a first side of the housingunit 20, the first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 may extend from thefirst side to a second side. The second side may represent a sideparallel to the first side. For example, the first and second sides mayrespectively correspond to uppermost and lowermost sides or to leftmostand rightmost sides of the housing unit.

Through the squeezing motion on, e.g., either one of, the first andsecond sides of the housing unit 20, a distance between the first andsecond panels 70-1 and 70-2 may decrease. For example, if the first sideis pressed, the first guide unit 30 disposed between the first andsecond panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be pressed, and the first guide unit 30may sense the squeezing motion applied thereon by sensing the degree ofpressure applied thereon. In another example, if the second side ispressed, the flexible display apparatus 1 may sense the squeezing motionon the second side in which the first guide unit 30 is not disposed,e.g., via the rigid first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 extending fromthe second side to the first guide unit 30.

For example, the first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be integrallydisposed with the housing unit 20. In another example, the first andsecond panels 70-1 and 70-2 may be separately disposed and fixed to thehousing unit 20. In addition, the first and second panels 70-1 and 70-2may be disposed in the housing unit 20 in various embodiments, and arenot limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. In this way, theflexible display apparatus 1 as described herein may include at leastone panel as auxiliary means for sensing the squeezing motion on variousregions of the housing unit 20

FIG. 4 illustrate a schematic block diagram of the flexible displayapparatus 1 of FIGS. 1A to 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the flexible display apparatus 1 may include theflexible display 10, the first guide unit 30 guiding the movement of theflexible display 10, and a control unit controlling the flexible display10 and the first guide unit 30.

The flexible display 10 may display images. The flexible display 10 maygradually display images in correspondence with expansion/contraction ofthe length or the area thereof according to flexible characteristics.The flexible display 10 may display images corresponding to an exposedregion. Here, the images may represent still images, video images,texts, or other various images which include these images and can bevisually expressed in various ways. The flexible display 10 may displaythe images based on contents executed by the control unit 80 and controlcommands of the control unit 80.

The first guide unit 30 may guide the movement of the flexible display10 as described above with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Furthermore,the first guide unit 30 may sense the movement of the flexible display10 and the squeezing motion on the housing unit 20. The first guide unit30 may transmit the sensing results to the control unit 80.

The control unit 80 may execute various applications by processinginternal data of the flexible display apparatus 1. Also, the controlunit 80 may control the applications being executed in the flexibledisplay apparatus 1 based on the detected commands. The control unit 80may control each above-mentioned unit, and also control thereceipt/transmission between the units. In particular, the control unit80 as described herein may detect various environments related to theflexible display apparatus 1 by using the guide unit 30, and controleach unit based on the detecting results.

When the control unit 80 receives a sensing result related to themovement of the flexible display 10 from the first guide unit 30, i.e.,when the control unit 80 detects movement of the flexible display 10,the control unit 80 may detect the moving direction, the moving speed,the moving distance, etc. of the flexible display 10. In accordance withthe detected moving speed, direction, distance, etc., the control unit80 may selectively activate an exposed region of the flexible display10, i.e., activate a region of the flexible display 10 exposed to theoutside in correspondence with the detecting results. For example, thecontrol unit 80 may selectively supply a power source or electricalpower to a specific region of the flexible display 10, i.e., the exposedregion, according to the detecting results to display images.

When the control unit 80 receives a sensing result related to thesqueezing motion from the first guide unit 30, i.e., when the controlunit 80 detects a squeezing motion, the control unit 80 may detect theuser's squeezing motion on the flexible display apparatus 1. The controlunit 80 may execute various control commands for controlling the displayof the exposed area of the flexible display 10. For example, whendetecting the squeezing motion, the control unit 80 may displayapplication execution image corresponding to the selected icon. Variousembodiments regarding the control commands corresponding to squeezingmotions will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to6C.

Hereinafter, it may be described that the control unit 80, according touser input, controls the flexible display apparatus 1 or at least oneunit included in the flexible display apparatus 1. The control unit 80and the flexible display apparatus 1 may be explained while beingidentified with each other.

FIG. 4 illustrate a block diagram according to an embodiment of theflexible display apparatus 1, and separately illustrated blocks areillustrated by logically separating the components of the apparatus.Accordingly, the above-mentioned units may be mounted as one chip or aplurality of chips according to the design of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the flexible displayapparatus 1 performing a selection or execution operation correspondingto a squeeze motion. Referring to FIG. 5, the flexible display apparatus1 may perform various operations corresponding to squeezing motions.

For example, the flexible display apparatus 1 may perform a selection orexecution of one object among a plurality of objects corresponding to asqueezing motion 120. For example, the flexible display apparatus 1 mayperform a selection or an execution of a first icon 100-1 from among aplurality of icons. Here, the flexible display apparatus 1 may displayan indicator 100-2 indicating the selected icon or the icon or to beexecuted.

When a user is going to select or execute the first icon 100-1, whichthe indicator 100-2 indicates, the corresponding first icon 100-1 may beselected or executed by simply squeezing the flexible display apparatus1. The icon 100-1 which the indicator 100-2 indicates may be separatelydesignated by a touch input or the like of a user.

In another example, the flexible display apparatus 1 may perform apreset control command corresponding to the squeezing motion 120. Thepreset control command may be determined with respect to the applicationcurrently being executed. For example, when a squeezing motion isdetected while playing music, the flexible display apparatus 1 may pausethe music being played in response to the squeezing motion 120. Here,when the flexible display apparatus 1 further detects a squeezing motion120, the paused music may be replayed.

In addition, the flexible display apparatus 1 may perform variouscontrol operations. For example, operation such as “rewind,” “cancelexecution,” “switch page,” “scroll,” etc., with respect to anapplication being executed, may be performed in in response to thesqueezing motion 120, which is not limited to the above-mentionedembodiments.

In general, users use the flexible display apparatus 1 by gripping oneside of the flexible display apparatus 1 by one hand. The flexibledisplay apparatus 1, as described herein, allows users to easily controlthe corresponding apparatus by hand gripping the apparatus, so that amore convenient and easier method for controlling the flexible displayapparatus 1 may be provided.

FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate views of an embodiment of the flexible displayapparatus 1 performing various operations corresponding to an inwardmovement or an outward movement of the flexible display apparatus and asqueeze motion.

For example, referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, the flexible display apparatus 1may provide a menu interface with a plurality of menus. Here, theflexible display apparatus 1 may navigate the plurality of menus inaccordance with the movement of the flexible display 10. Users maynavigate the plurality of menus provided by the menu interface, andselect or execute at least one menu.

For example, referring to FIGS. 6A to 6C, the flexible display apparatus1 may provide a music menu interface with a plurality of playable musicmenus 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 200-5. The plurality of music menus200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 200-5 may be arranged in a predeterminedsequence and direction. For example, the music menus 200-1, 200-2,200-3, 200-4 and 200-5 may be arranged in a first direction D1, and in asequence of a first music 200-1->a second music 200-2->a third music200-3->a fourth music 200-4->a fifth music 200-5. The music menus 200-1,200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 200-5 may be navigated in correspondence withthe movement of the flexible display 10.

For example, referring to FIG. 6B, when a user outwardly pulls theflexible display 10 (operation 120-2) in the first direction D1 whileproviding the third music menu 200-3, the flexible display 10 maynavigate the music menus 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 200-5 arrangedin the second direction D2 opposite the first direction D1. As a resultof navigating the music menus 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 200-5 inthe second direction D2, the first and second music menus 200-1 and200-2 sequentially arranged in the second direction D2 may beadditionally or sequentially displayed on an expanded region of theflexible display 10.

In another example, when a user inwardly moves the flexible display 10in the second direction D2 while providing the third music menu 200-3,the flexible display 10 may navigate the music menus 200-4 and 200-5arranged in the first direction D1. As a result of navigating the musicmenus 200-4 and 200-5 in the first direction D1, the fourth and fifthmusic menus 200-4 and 200-5 sequentially arranged in the first directionD1 may be additionally or sequentially displayed on a exposed region ofthe flexible display 10.

At least one among the navigated music menus 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4and 200-5 may be executed by a squeezing motion 120-1 of a user.

When the navigated menus 200-1 and 200-2 are added according to amovement of the flexible display 10, the flexible display 10 may providean indicator 210, i.e., similar to the indicator 100-2 described abovewith reference to FIG. 5. Accordingly, a user may execute a menu 200-2to execute among the plurality of navigated menus 200-1 and 200-2 byperforming the squeezing motion 120-1 when the indicator 210 indicatesthe menu 200-2. For example, when a user wants to execute the secondmenu 200-2, the second menu 200-2 may be executed by performing thesqueezing motion 120-1 while the indicator 210 indicates the second menu200-2.

When the navigated menus are sequentially provided one by one accordingto a movement of the flexible display 10, a user may execute acorresponding menu by performing the squeezing motion 120-1 when themenu the user wants to execute is provided. For example, when a userwants to execute the second menu 200-2, the second menu 200-2 may beexecuted by performing the squeezing motion 120-1 when the second menu200-2 is displayed on the flexible display 10.

However the indicator 210 of the current embodiment may move togetherwith the flexible display 10, which is different from that of FIG. 5.For example, when the flexible display 10 moves in the first directionD1 while the indicator 210 indicates the third menu 200-3, the indicator210 may move in the second direction and indicate the second menu 200-2.

Thus, the flexible display apparatus 1 as described herein provides asimple control method correlated to the movement of the flexible display10 and the squeezing motion. Therefore, users may more easily andconveniently control the apparatus.

FIG. 7A illustrates a front perspective view of a flexible displayapparatus including a plurality of guide units. FIG. 7B is across-sectional views taken along line J-J′ of the flexible displayapparatus illustrated in FIG. 7A.

Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7B, a flexible display apparatus 2 may includea plurality of guide units in a housing unit 21. For example, theflexible display apparatus 2 may include first and second guide units 30and 31. Here, the second guide unit 31 is substantially the same as thefirst guide unit 30 mentioned above.

However, the flexible display 10 of the current embodiment may besupported not by the housing unit 20 but by the first and second guideunits 30 and 31, which is different from the above-mentionedembodiments. Here, first and second ends of the flexible display 10 maybe connected to each other, and thus the first and second guide units 30and 31 may be located in an inner space thus defined.

Also, the housing unit 21 of the flexible display apparatus 2 of thecurrent embodiment may be formed of a transparent material and disposedto cover an entire region of the flexible display 10. Since the housingunit 21 is formed of a transparent material, the view of the entireregion of the flexible display 10 may be secured regardless of whetherthe flexible display 10 outwardly moves form the housing unit 21.

The first and second guide units 30 and 31 may be respectively disposedin the first side and the second side parallel to the first side of thehousing unit 21. For example, the first and second guide units 30 and 31may be respectively disposed in upper and lower sides or in left andright sides.

The first and second guide units 30 and 31 may sense a squeezing motionas well as guide a rotation of the flexible display 10 in the housingunit 21. When the flexible display 10 rotates inside the housing unit21, the first and second guide units 30 and 31 may rotate in a samedirection to each other.

Since the first and second guide units 30 and 31 are respectivelydisposed in the first and second sides, a squeezing motion on the firstand second sides may be sensed. In order to sense squeezing motions onentire regions of the flexible display 10, the first and second panels70-1 and 70-2 of FIG. 3 may be further disposed adjacent to the firstand second guide units 30 and 31.

According to an embodiment, a guide unit guiding movement of a flexibledisplay. e.g., sliding or rolling out of a housing unit, also sensesgripping pressure, e.g., of a user. As such, input of a user into theflexible display may be sensed through the gripping pressure withoutusing additional separate components. Thus, there is an advantage interms of miniaturization and manufacturing costs of the flexibledisplay. Also, according to another embodiment, various control methodsfor a flexible display apparatus may be provided.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In someinstances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art asof the filing of the present application, features, characteristics,and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment maybe used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwisespecifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those ofskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display apparatus, including: aflexible display; a housing to store at least a portion of the flexibledisplay; and a first guide in the housing to guide movement of theflexible display, and to sense a squeezing motion on the housing.
 2. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstguide includes: a rotating unit to rotate according to the movement ofthe flexible display; and a fixed unit defining a rotation axis of therotating unit.
 3. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 2,wherein the rotating unit senses the movement of the flexible display,and the fixed unit senses the squeeze motion on the housing.
 4. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixed unitis an electrostatic capacitive sensor or a piezoelectric sensor.
 5. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixed unitis the electrostatic capacitive sensor and includes a first electrodeand a second electrode facing the first electrode, the fixed unit sensesthe squeezing motion by using a change in electrostatic capacitancebetween the first electrode and second electrode according to anexternal force on the housing.
 6. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the fixed unit is the piezoelectric sensorand includes a first electrode, a second electrode facing the firstelectrode, and a piezoelectric element between the first and secondelectrodes, the fixed unit senses the squeezing motion by using anelectrical potential difference generated in the piezoelectric elementaccording to an external force on the housing.
 7. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotating unit is a torquesensor or a gyro sensor.
 8. The flexible display apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the rotating unit includes an elastic cover of anelastic material, and a rotation guide to guide the elastic cover torotate based on the fixed unit serving as an axis of rotation.
 9. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstguide is at a first side of the housing and senses the squeezing motionon the first side of the housing.
 10. The flexible display apparatus asclaimed in claim 9, further comprising first and second panels inparallel to each other, the first guide being between the first andsecond panels, wherein one end of each of the first and second panels isadjacent to the first guide, and the first and second panels extend fromthe first side of the housing to a second side opposite the first side.11. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein thefirst and second sides of the housing, respectively, correspond touppermost and lowermost sides or to leftmost and rightmost sides of thehousing.
 12. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 10,wherein, when the first guide is pressed, a distance between the firstand second panels decreases by the squeezing motion on the housing, andthe first guide senses the squeezing motion by sensing the degree ofpressure.
 13. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 9,further comprising a second guide at a second side of the housingopposite the first side of the housing, the second guide sensing asqueezing motion on the second side.
 14. The flexible display apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the squeezing motion is pressure thatexceeds a predetermined force applied to the housing.
 15. The flexibledisplay apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible display isslidable or rollable into or out of the housing.
 16. The flexibledisplay apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first guide guidesthe flexible display into or out of the housing.
 17. The flexibledisplay apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first guide guidesthe path along which the flexible display is rolled into or out of thehousing.
 18. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 3,further comprising a controller to control the first guide and theflexible display.
 19. The flexible display apparatus as claimed in claim18, wherein the controller detects at least one of the moving direction,moving speed, and moving distance of the flexible display by using therotating unit of the first guide, and detects a region of the flexibledisplay exposed to the outside based on the detected results.
 20. Theflexible display apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein thecontroller detects the region exposed to the outside to selectivelyactivate the region exposed to the outside.
 21. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the controller detects thesqueezing motion on the housing via the fixed unit of the first guide,and controls display of a region exposed to the outside of the flexibledisplay based on the detected results.
 22. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller: navigatesmenus provided by a menu interface corresponding to the movement of theflexible display when an image being displayed is a menu interface, andselects or executes one menu from the menus according to the navigatedresult when detecting the squeezing motion.
 23. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing further includes atransparent cover of a transparent material.
 24. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing supports a regionof the flexible display exposed to an outside.
 25. The flexible displayapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a specific region of thehousing corresponding to the first guide includes an elastic material.